Florence City Council adopts 10-year improvement plan years ago
Florence City Council met Monday night and passed a resolution to accept a 10-year plan addressing capital improvements and an equipment reserve.
The plan, drawn up by councilman Randy Mills, is a tool to help not only this council, but future councils budget for infrastructure upgrades and equipment replacement.
The resolution allows for yearly examination of suggested priorities which may be changed in any given year. Allowance also is made for expenditures when current debts are retired.
Among the capital projects currently listed are drainage improvements, sidewalks and curbs, sewer and water line upgrades, water tower repairs, and a community building. Council would focus equipment funding on fire truck payments, city vehicles, trash truck and box trade, mowers, tractor trade, water plant equipment, and a culvert cleaner.
Council members agreed that a town meeting to present the plan and allow for community discussion would be advantageous. It was suggested such a meeting take place in spring before council begins budget work meetings.
Florence Fire Chief Tim Parmley reminded councilmen of the fire department hog roast Oct. 15. Parmley outlined children's activities the department has planned for the event and shared some of the free gifts they will give the youngsters.
He also announced a group of third graders will be in Florence Friday to go through the fire station, see the trucks, and learn about fire safety.
In other business the council:
— approved warrant 2005-19 in the amount of $10,495.35.
— examined a recommended change to the mobile home ordinance made by the planning commission. Wording has been changed to allow mobile homes to be moved onto a city lot only if it is 10 years old or newer and replaces an existing occupied mobile home. Council approved first reading of the change and will consider it again Oct. 17.
— heard Del Leeds give a public reading of Americans with Disabilities Act grievance procedures. The resolution was unanimously approved by council for inclusion in the ADA file.
— agreed to have Leeds create for the city an ordinance of all ADA resolutions.
— heard from Leeds that painting of handicap ramps was finished.
— heard from councilman Bryan Harper that Cunningham Sandblasting and Painting had contacted him to advise the city water tower is in need of major repair. Harper said the Cunningham bid would be good only until January 2006. No action was taken.
— agreed to pay for gas for equipment to work on the tree farm as long as an expense log is recorded.
— approved conference fee, lodging, and meal expenses for Tim Parmley to attend a fire chiefs' convention in Hays this month and for Darla Gore to attend the third year of a three-year city clerk's conference in November.
— went into a 15-minute executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel. No action was taken on return to open meeting.
— reviewed weekly time sheets presented by city superintendent Jeff Wagner. Wagner said compiling data from time sheets will allow council to better understand the time city employees spend on each task they do.
— approved a plan to allow city employees to act as backup in the event police officers are not available to stop traffic on U.S.-50/77 for a funeral procession.
— discussed the placement of new stop signs on Eighth and Marion streets. Council members did not feel the new signs had the desired effect of slowing traffic in that neighborhood, but no action was taken. Police chief Erik King will watch for speeding in the area.
